Medication Guidelines
The following guidelines outline the procedure necessary for the school nurse or designated school employees to administer non-prescription and prescription medication to children during the school day.
A. All medication brought to school must be delivered to a school nurse or designated school employee by the parent or legal guardian and kept in a secure place, except as provided by terms of Board Policy #5008. The school will not accept medications brought by students or send medication home with students. Medications cannot and will not be accepted in baggies or envelopes. Prescription medication must be prescribed for the student and have a pharmacy label attached. All over the counter medications must be in their original containers with labeled instructions for administration and will be administered when other alternatives, such as resting or changing activities, are inappropriate or ineffective. Medication will be administered pursuant to the parent’s instructions and the directions for use on the label or in the physician’s prescription.
B. Every effort should be made to give children their medication at home to avoid disruption of the educational process. The school does not stock any medications for student use. It is the parent’s responsibility to supply any medication they want their child to receive and to complete the necessary forms for medication administration.
C. A “Parental Authorization Form” must be completed and accompany all medication. The form must give the following information:
- Name of student.
- Name of medication.
- Dosage and special instructions.
- Date(s) and time(s) medication is to be administered.
The “Parental Authorization Form” must be signed by the student’s legal custodian. The authorization will be kept on file in the nurse’s office.
In the absence of either the written parental permission form or medication in properly labeled container, no medication will be administered.
Over-the-counter medication which is not designated on the label as appropriate for the child’s age will not be administered without written physician authorization.
Any medication requiring administration longer than a two-week period must be accompanied by a physician’s written authorization.
A new authorization form must be filled out for each change in dosage of medication or administration.
D. In the absence of either the written parental permission form or medication in a properly labeled container, no medication will be administered.
E. Over-the-counter medication which is not designated on the label as appropriate for the child’s age will not be administered without written physician authorization.
F. Herbal medications and non-FDA approved medications can be administered at school only if there is a written order from an MD, DO, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician’s Assistant with prescriptive authority. These medications cannot be accepted on a parent’s signature alone, nor can a naturopathic doctor write the order.
G. For self-administration, the parent or guardian must provide the school with an emergency supply of the student’s medication to be administered as authorized by state law, then the school site staff shall provide that medication to the student pending all approved documents/permission forms are completed.
H. A new authorization form must be filled out for each change in dosage of medication or administration.
I. Any remaining medication must be picked up by a legal parent/guardian on or before the last day of school or the medication will be destroyed.